Device for making strips of predetermined length from a sheet material wound to form a roll



Feb. 23, 1965 w FAUST 3,170,614

DEVICE FOR MAKING STRIPS OFPREDETERMINED LENGTH FROM A SHEET MATERIAL WOUND TO FORM A ROLL Filed March 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 IOOb 100a Wolter Faust Any.

Feb. 23, 1965 w. us 3,170,614

DEVICE FOR MAKING STRIPS OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH FROM A SHEET MATERIAL WOUND TO FORM A ROLL Filed March 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lrwewm? r Wolier Faust by Atty,

United States Patent DEVICE FOR MAKING STRIPS 0F PREDETER- MINED LENGTH FROM A SHEET MATERIAL WOUND TO FORM A ROLL Walter Faust, Urhach, Hesse, Germany, assignor to Telefonbau und Normalzeit G.m.b.H., Frankfurt am Main,

Germany Filed Mar. 11, 19 63, Ser. No. 264,191 Claims priority, applicatgingGlermany, Apr. 6, 1962,

3 5 13 Claims. (Cl. 226- 134) This invention is concerned with devices for making strips of predetermined length from a sheet material wound to form a roll.

Devices of this kind are needed and used in connection with printing machines, and more particularly with printing machines which are associated with, and form part of, postage meters.

It is one object of this invention to provide improved devices of the aforementioned character.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved devices of the aforementioned character which lend themselves to use in connection with postage meters.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved devices of the aforementioned character which lend themselves to making strips of various predetermined length, and in particular which lend themselves to making strips having a predetermined relatively short length as well as to making strips having a predetermined relatively long length.

Still another object of this invention is to provide combinations of devices for making strips of a predetermined length and of signalling devices responsive to the operation of the strip making devices which combinations lend themselves to use in postage meters and like devices including strip printing means.

These and other objects of the invention and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings are an isometric view of a device or machine embodying the present invention, FIG. 1a showing the left portion and FIG. 1b the right portion thereof, some elements of that device or machine being broken away to better show other elements thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, shaft 80 supports a roll of paper 77 from which a strip 35 of paper may be removed. Strip 35 enters the nip formed between a transport roller 33 and a capstan 38. Capstan 38 is supported by two arms 38a pivotally mounted on shaft 39 acted upon by two rat-trap biasing springs 40 and 41. Hence capstan 38 can be pivoted about shaft 39.

The shaft 81 of transport roller 33 supports a spur gear 32 in meshing engagement with another spur gear 31. The latter forms part of a ratchet mechanism including the ratchet 37 arid the cooperating ratchet gear 36. Both spur gear 31 and ratchet gear 36 are mounted upon a pin which is fixed in space. The joint action of ratchet 37 and of ratchet gear 36 precludes rotary motion of spur gear 31 in one sense and allows rotary motion of spur gear 31 in the other sense, that is clockise as seen in the drawing.

Spur gear 31 is integral with a sleeve 30 housing a coupling means therein (not shown). That coupling 3,170,614 Patented Feb. 23, 1965 e CE means may be a helical spring which is being stressed when shaft 26 turns in one direction and then transmit a torque from shaft 26 to spur gear 31, and which spring does not transmit a torque from shaft 26 to spur gear 31 when the former is turned in the opposite direction. The aforementioned opposite direction is the direction in which any rotary motion of spur gear 31 is precluded by the action of ratchet mechanism 36, 37. Shaft 26 supports a dog disc 25 and is under the bias of a helical spring which is mounted upon it. One end of biasing spring 29 rests against a fixed stop 29a, while the other end of biasing spring 29 rests against a tab 28 integral with plate or dog disc 25. Spring 29 tends to cause engagement of tab 28 with a fixed abutment pin 34. An additional tab 27 is likewise integral with dog disc 25. Tab 27 is arranged in the path of movement of a cooperating abutment tab 10. The latter is integral with a lever 10a. Lever 10a is pivotally mounted on a disc '9. Disc 9 is mounted on the right end of a shaft 8. The latter is adapted to be operated by a motor 1 by the intermediary of a coupling 7, 6 and a gear train 5, 4,3, 2. When motor 1 operates shaft 8 is turned in clockwise direction as seen in the present drawing.

Part 7 of coupling 6, 7 is adapted to be shifted in a direction longitudinally of shaft 8 into and out of torquetransmitting engagement with part 6 of coupling '6, 7. To thisend part 7 of coupling 6, 7 is shiftably mounted on shaft 8 and biased by a spring .(not shown) tending to shift part 7 of coupling 6, 7 from its right position shown in the drawing to the left and into engagement with part 7. Operation of coupling 6, 7 is effected by a cam structure 82 including an oblique cam surface 82a and by a spring biased finger 43 in cooperative engagement with cam structure 82. Finger 43 is, in turn, operable by a plunger 42 which is spring-biased in upward direction and can be moved downward into engagement with finger 43, thus pivoting the latter about pin 4311 out of engagement with earn structure 82. If finger 43 is lifted for a short time from cam structure 82, then part 7 of coupling 6, 7 is allowed to move under the action of its aforementioned biasing spring axially into engagement with part 6 of coupling 6, 7, thus establishing a torque-transmitting connec'tion between these two parts. This torque-transmitting connection is allowed to prevail merely for the time of one revolution of shaft 8. At the end ofthattime finger 43 re-engages the oblique cam surface 82a o'fcarn structure 82, thus shifting part 7 of coupling 6, 7 from the left to the right and out of engagement with part During such a revolution of shaft 8 tab 10 on disc 9 engages tab 27 on disc 25, thus causing jointv'rotarvrnoftion of discs 9 and 2S.

The freedom of rotary or angular movement of disc 25 is limited and is less than 360 degrees. Tab 10 disc 9 is associated with means allowing to move tab 10 out of engagement with tab 27 on disc '25 upon completion of a predetermined angular movement of shaft To this end lever 10a integral with tab 10 is pivotally mounted on a pin 11 supported on disc 9, and lever 102i is provided with a pin 14 extending parallel td shaftB and projecting through a sector=shaped slot 13 in disc 9. Rat trap spring 12 is supported on disc 9 and has one end resting against tab 10, thus tending to pivot the latter about pin 11 to the position shown in the drawing in which position pin 14 engages the upper end of sector'- shaped slot 13. In that position tab 10 abuts against tab of its two opposite adjusting directions.

27 when the former is turned in clockwise direction. By operating pin 14 within slot 13 tab may be moved out of engagement with tab 27 on disc 25.

Pin 14 is adapted to be operated by a cam surface 16 integral with a disc which, in turn, is integral with a hollow shaft 18. The latter fixedly supports a gear segment 17 in meshing engagement with a gear segment 20. Gear segment 20 is pivotally mounted on pin 21 and manually operable by means of lever 19. Lever 19 and gear segment 20 are movable to two limit positions which are defined by two apertures 24 in gear segment 20 into either of which a spring biased plunger 22 may enter, thus limiting adjusting movements of gear segment 20 in either It will be apparent that lever 19 and gear segment 20 are meansfor manually adjusting gear segment 17 and hollow shaft 18 which, in turn, are means for adjusting disc 15 and its cam surface 16. Hence lever 19 allows to adjust the extend or angle of the rotary motion of shaft 8 which may take place before pin 14 is engaged by cam surface 16. When pin 14 is engaged by cam surface 16 lever 10a is pivoted about pin 11 against the bias of spring 12, whereby tab 10 is moved out of engagement with tab 27 On disc 25. Consequently disc is then free to return under the bias of helical spring 29 to its initial position shown in the drawing.

During the period of time disc 25 is moved forward in clockwise direction by cooperative engagement of tabs 10 and 27 transport roller 33 is operated by intermediary of spur gears 31 and 32. Consequently a strip of predetermined length is withdrawn from roll 77 and moved through the nip formed between transport roller 33 and capstan 38. A strip 35 of equal length is moved through the. gap formed between a pair of cooperating knives 44, intended to sever strip 35. Knife 44 is a fixed knife and knife 45 is a movable knife. The latter is adapted to be operated by a shaft 46 and thus to be brought into cutting engagement with knife 44. The drawing shows the right end of shaft 46 and the left end thereof, the middle portion of shaft 46 having been broken away in order not to.

crowd the drawing. The left end of shaft 46 supports a dog 47 which is under the bias of a retracting spring 8-3. Dog 47 is controlled by a cooperating dog or pin 48 mounted on a disc 49 which, in turn, is mounted on shaft .8. In the course of one revolution of shaft 8 pin 48 once engages dog 47 and causes a short to and fro motion of shaft 46, whereby knife 45 is moved and strip 35 is severed. It will be apparent that the forward or counterclockwise motion of shaft 46 is effected against the bias of retracting spring 83 and that the backward or counterclockwise motion of shaft 47 is effected under the action of retracting spring 83.

The strip 35 when severed from roll 77 asses through the nip formed between a transport roller 76 and a pair of capstans 56 and 57. Transport roller 76 is driven by motor 1 by the intermediary of gears 2, 3, belt 55, pulley 54, shaft 53, meshing spur gears 52 and 51 and shaft on which transport roller 76 is mounted. It will be apparent from the foregoing that while motor 1 drives shaft 8 intermittently, shaft 50 is being continuously driven by motor 1. Capstans 56 and 57 are mounted on a common shaft 64 operable by an arm 63 mounted on a shaft 62 resting in bearings 62a. The left end of shaft 62 supports an arm 59 under the bias of spring 60. Arm 59 is provided with a pin 58 engaging a cam surface 61 formed by the outer periphery of disc 49 mounted on shaft 8. Biasing spring 69 caues engagement under pressure of cam surface 61 by pin 58. Thus cam surface 58 forms a drive for operating the pair of capstans 56 and 57. Capstans 56 and 57 are kept in spaced relation from transport roller 76 as long as a length of strip 35 is withdrawn from roll 77 by the cooperative engagement of tabs 10 and 27. In the instant in which strip 35 is severed by the action of knives 44 and 45, the capstans 56 and 57 are moved intoen gagement with, and pressed against, transport roll- 4 er 76, this motion being controlled and effected by parts 61, 58, 59, 62,63 and 64. Capstans 56 and 57are a transfer mechanism for transfering the severed length of strip 35 to its point of ultimate use which may be, for instance, a postage metering device or postage meter.

If the device which further processes several. lengths of strip 35 operates intermittently rather than continuously, then an electric contact may be provided adapted to initiate operation of the intermittently operating device in response to the presence of a severed length of strip 35. Such a contact has been shown in the drawing and indicated by reference numeral 65. Contact 65 is operated in response to two operating conditions. One of them is the presence of a severed length of strip 35, as mentioned above. The other operating condition is'the position of manually operated lever 19 by which the angle of rotary motion of disc 25 and thus the length of the strip'to be cut off roll 77 are determined.

Contact 65 is controlled by a contact operating lever 66 loosely mounted on shaft 67. Sleeve 66a integral with lever 66 forms an abutment engaged by a pin 84 radially projecting from shaft 67. A helical spring mounted on shaft 67 tends to turn shaft 67 in counterclockwise direction, thus causing pin 84 to preclude a contact closing operation of lever 66. A contact closing operation of lever 66 is also precluded by a bell-crank-shaped lever 72 pivoted at 72a and under the bias of a helical spring 72b. Lever 72 has one arm arranged underlever 66 and precluding a downward contact closing movement of lever 66 as long as bell-crank-shaped lever 72 is in the interlocking position shown in the drawing; When bell-crank-shaped lever 72 is pivoted about 72a in clockwise direction as indicated in the drawing by an arrow S, then contact operating lever 66 may be free to move downwardly into engagement with contact 65 to close the electric circuit controlled by contact 65. The left arm of bell-crankshaped lever 72 is provided wth a perforation or aperture 720 engaged by an arm 75 integral with a sensing shaft 74. Sensing shaft 74 rests in two bearings 74a and is provided with a sensing lever 73 adapted to engage severed lengths of strip 35 which may be positioned in front of said lever 73. When such a length of strip '35 is in front of lever 73, the latter is actuated by said strip, causing a pivotal motion of sensing shaft 74 and arm 75 and a corresponding pivotal motion of bell-crank-shaped lever 72 in the direction of arrow S. Thus the right arm of lever 72 is moved out of the way of lever 66, yet lever 66 cannot move downward to operate contact 65-before the pressure of pin 84 on sleeve 66a is removed. It will be noted that the drawing shows the right end of shaft 67 and the left end portion thereof, the center portion of shaft 67 having been broken away. Sleeve 1% ismounted on the left end of shaft 67 and is sufiiciently loose to slide in a direction longitudinallythereof. Slot 166a defined by sleeve is engaged by a pin 101 integral with shaft 67 and projecting radially outwardly from shaft 67 into slot 100a. Thus shaft 67 is caused to follow pivoting motions of sleeve 1% about the common longitudinal axis of sleeve 100 and shaft 67. Arm 69 integral with sleeve 1G0 and under the action of helical biasing spring 68 may be caused to pivot sleeve and shaft 67 about their common longitudinal axis. To this end arm 69 may be operated either by cam 79 or cam 71 (broken away in part), both fixedly mounted upon shaft 8. By appropriate adjustment of sleeve 100 in axial directionarm 69 may be caused to engage selectively. either cam 76 or cam 71. Such an adjustment of arm 69 may be effected by shifting sleeve 100 in a direction longitudinally of shaft 67. To this end sleeve 1% is provided witha circular groove 10% engaged by a cam 73 integral with gear segment 17. Thus the position of sleeve 100 of shaft 67 is determined by the position of handle 19 which, in turn, determines the length of the strip 35 to be cut off from roll 77; Whenever a pivotal movement of lever 72 in the direction of arrow S and a clockwiserotary motion of shaft 67 coincide in time, lever 66 is free to drop down upon contact 65, thus closing an electric circuit under the control of contact 65.

Cams 70 and 71 cause operation of arm 69 at different points of time. One cam will automatically be selected by operation of lever 19 to one of its limit positions in case that the desired strip length is relatively short, while the other cam will be automatically selected by operation of lever 19 to its other limit position in case that the desired strip length is relatively long.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the angle of each intermittent rotary motion of transport roller 33 is determined by the adjustment of parts 19, 20, 17, 15, 14 and 10 which may be effected at will, thus making it readily possible to change the length of strips 35 removed from roll 77.

It will further be apparent from the foregoing that whatever the r'neasured length of the strip 35 drawn from roll 77, a cutting operation Will be performed by knives 44, 45 in equal intervals which depend on the angular velocity of shaft 8 and not on the length of the strips 35 drawn from roll 77. I

The operation of the transport mechanism is also initiated in equal intervals of time which depend upon the angular velocity of shaft 8, disc'49 and pin 42, transport roller 76 being driven continuously but not being engaged continuously by the pair of capstans 56 and 57.

The operation of contact 65 is made dependent upon two operating conditions namely the presence of a length of strip in front of sensing lever 73 and the position of lever 19 controlling the length of the strips 35 to be drawn from roll 77.

It will be understood that I have illustrated and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, and that various alterations may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. A device for making strips of predetermined length from a sheet material wound to form a roll, said device comprising in combination:

(a) transport roller means adapted to draw sheet material wound in form of a roll from such a roll;

(1)) drive means for driving said transport roller means adapted to be torque-transmitting in but one single direction, said drive means including a first shaft;

('0) a spring-biased abutment structure fixedly mounted I on said first shaft;

(d) a fixed stop limiting rotary motion of said first shaft and of said abutment structure under said spring bias;

'(e) a motor;

(1) a second shaft arranged coaxially to said first shaft and driven by said motor;

(g) a rotary abutment driven by said second shaft adapted to engage said abutment structure to operate said first shaft against said spring bias; and g (h) adjusting means for controlling angle of rotation of the said rotary abutment preceding engagement thereof with said abutment structure, said adjusting means including cam means adapted to move said rotary abutment out of engagement with said abutment structure upon engagement of said abutment by said cam means, a sleeve integral with said cam means loosely mounted on said second shaft, and means for turning said sleeve around said second shaft.

2. A device for making strips of predetermined length from a sheet material wound to form a roll, said device comprising in "combination:

(a) a power-driven transport roller;

(b) a spring biased capstan engaging said transport roller under pressure;

(a) drive means for driving said transport roller adapted to impart a rotary motion to said transport roller in but one single direction, said drive means including a first shaft;

(d) a spring-biased abutment structure fixedly mounted on said first shaft; 7

(e) a fixed stop limiting rotary motion of said first shaft and of said abutment structure under said spring bias;

(1) a motor;

(g) a second shaft arranged coaxially to said first shaft and adapted to be driven by said motor;

(h) an automatic coupling interposed between said motor and said second shaft;

(1') means for controlling said automatic coupling to limit the time during which said second shaft is being driven by said motor to the time required by said second shaft to complete one single revolution thereof;

(j) a rotary abutment driven by said second shaft adapted to cooperatively engage said abutment structure to operate said first shaft against said spring-bias; and

(k) adjusting means for controlling the angle of rotation of said rotary abutment preceding engagement thereof with said abutment structure, said adjusting means including cam means adapted to move said rotary abutment out of engagement with said abutment structure upon engagement of said rotary abutment by said cam means, a sleeve integral with said cam means loosely mounted on said second shaft, and manually operable means for turning said sleeve around said second shaft.

3. A device for making strips of predetermined length from a sheet of material Wound to form a roll, said device comprising in combination:

(a) transport roller means adapted to draw sheet material wound in form of a roll from such a roll;

(b) a gear drive adapted to operate said transport roller means in one sense only, said gear drive including a first shaft;

(c) a first disc fixedly mounted on said first shaft and having a first abutment tab projecting from the general plane defined by said first disc in a direction longitudinally of said first shaft;

(d) a motor;

(e) a second shaft arranged coaxially to said first shaft and adapted to be driven by said motor;

(1) a second disc fixedly mounted on said second shaft for joint rotary motion with said second shaft;

(g) a second abutment tab supported by said second disc, movable relative to said second disc and projecting from the general plane defined by said second disc in a direction longitudinally of said first shaft and of said second shaft to cooperatively engage said first abutment tab; and

(h) abutment means for causing relative movement between said second abutment tab and said second disc upon completion of a predetermined angular motion of said second shaft to effect disengagement of said second abutment tab from said first abutment tab upon completion of said angular motion.

4. A device for making strips of predetermined length from a sheet material Wound to form a roll, said device comprising in combination:

(a) transport roller means adapted to draw sheet material wound in form of a roll from such a roll;

(b) a drive adapted to operate said transport roller means in one sense only, said drive including a ratchet wheel and a cooperating ratchet to impart to said drive a one sense only operating characteristic, and said drive further including a first shaft transmitting torque to said transport roller means;

(0) a first disc fixedly mounted on said first shaft and having a first abutment tab projecting from the general plane defined by said first disc in a direction longitudinally of said first shaft;

(d) amotor;

(e) a second shaft arranged coaxially to said first shaft and adapted to be driven by said motor;

(f) an automatic coupling interposed between said motor and said second shaft;

(g) cam means controlling said automatic coupling to limit the time during which said second shaft is being driven by said motor to the time required by said second shaft to complete one single revolution thereof;

(h) a second disc fixedly mounted on said second shaft for joint-rotary motion with said second shaft;

(i) a second abutment tab supported by said second disc, movable relative to said second disc and projecting from the general plane defined by said second disc in a direction longitudinally of said first shaft and said second shaft to cooperatively engage said first abutment tab; and

(j) abutment means for causing relative movement between said second abutment tab and said second disc upon completion of a predetermined fraction of said single revolution of said second shaft to effect disengagement of said second abutment tab from said first abutment tab.

5. A device for making strips of predetermined length from a sheet material wound to form a roll, said device comprising in combination:

(a) transport roller means adapted to draw sheet material Wound in form of a roll from such a roll;

(1)) drive means adapted to impart a rotary motion to said roller means in one sense of rotation only, said drive means including a first shaft;

() an abutment structure fixedly mounted on said first shaft for joint rotary motion with said first shaft;

(d) amotor;

(e) a second shaft driven by said motor;

(f) a rotary abutment driven by said second shaft normally cooperatively engaging said abutment structure to transmit a torque from said second shaft to said first shaft and to said transport roller means;

(g) means for causing disengagement of said rotary abutment from said abutment structure and consequent stoppage of said transport roller means upon completion of a predetermined angular motion of said second shaft, said disengaging causing means including a cam adapted to be engaged by said rotary abutment upon completion of said predetermined angular motion of said second shaft; and

(It) manually operable adjusting means for altering the position of said cam.

6. A device as specified in claim 5 comprising automatic coupling means interposed between said motor and said second shaft adapted to disconnect said second shaft from said motor upon completion of a revolution of said second shaft to limit the rotary motions of said second shaft to single revolutions thereof while said motor is rotating continuously.

7. A device as specified in claim 5 comprising in combination:

(a) a sleeve loosely mounted on said second shaft and being integral with said cam;

(b) a first gear means integral with said sleeve;

(c) a second gear means in meshing engagement with said first gear means; and

(d) manually adjustable means for said second gear means to jointly adjust said second gear means, said first gear means and said sleeve to alter the position of said cam.

8. A device as specified in claim 5 comprising in combination:

(a) a sleeve loosely mounted on said second shaft and being integral with said cam;

(b) a first gear segment integral with said sleeve;

(0) a second gear segment in meshing engagement with said first gear segment; and

(d) a handle integral with saidsecond gear segment to S jointly adjust said second gear segment, said first gear segment and said sleeve to alter the position of said cam.

9. A device for making strips of predetermined length from sheet material wound to form a roll comprising in combination: i

(a) a transport roller in cooperative engagement with a spring-biased capstan;

(b) drive means adapted to impart to said transport roller a rotary motion in one sense only, said drive means including a first shaft;

(c) an abutment structure fixedly mounted on said first shaft for joint rotary motion with said first shaft;

(d) a motor; 7

(e) a second shaft adapted to be driven by said motor;

(1) an abutment support fixedly mounted on said second shaft for join-t rotation with said second shaft;

(g) an abutment pivotally supported by said abutment support normally engaging said abutment structure to drive said first shaft by said second shaft;

(h) a pin integral with said abutment and projecting from said abutment in a direction longitudinally of said second shaft;

(i) a pin-operating-member adapted to be engaged by said pin upon completion of an angular motion by said second shaft of less than 360 degrees to cause disengagement of said abutment from said abutment structure to stop said rotary motion of said transport roller; and V t v (j) means for altering the position of said pin-operating-member to vary the extent of the rotary motion of said second shaft preceding engagement of said pin by said pin-operating-mernber.

10. A device as specified in claim 9 wherein said abutment support is provided with a slot and wherein said pin projects transversely through said slot and is movable within said slot relative to said abutment support.

11. A device as specified in claim 9 wherein said pinoperating-member is integral with a sleeve adjustably mounted on said second shaft. 7

12. A device as specified in claim 9 wherein said second shaft supports a sleeve and wherein said pin-operat ing-member is integral with said sleeve and arranged adjacent to one of the axial ends thereof, and wherein said means for altering the position of-said pin-operating member is arranged adjacent to the other of the axial ends of said sleeve. 7

13. A device for making strips of predetermined length from a sheet material wound to form a roll, said device comprising in combination:

(a) a transport roller in cooperative engagement with a spring-biased capstan;

(b) drive means adapted to impart to said transport roller a rotary motion in one sense only, said drive means including a first shaft;

(c) an abutment structure fixedly mounted on said first shaft for joint rotary motion with said first shaft;

(d) spring means for biasing saidfirst shaft and said abutment structure in one direction;

(e) a motor;

(1) a second shaft arranged coaxially to said first shaft and adapted to be driven by said motor;

(g) an automatic coupling interposed between said motor and said second shaft;

(71) cam means for controlling said automatic coupling to limit the time during which said second shaft is being driven by said motor to the time required by said second shaft to complete one single revolution thereof; V p

(i) an abutment support fixedly mounted on said second shaft for joint rotation with said second shaft;

(1') a rotary abutment pivotally supported by said abutment support normally engaging said abutment structure to drive said first shaft by said second shaft;

(k) a pin integral with said rotary abutment and pro- 3,170,614 9 10 jecting from said rotary abutment in adirectionlongiof said second shaft preceding engagement of said tudinally of said second shaft; pin by said pin-operating member.

(I) a pin-operating member adapted to be engaged by said pin upon completion of an angular motion by said second shaft of less than one full revolution thereof to cause disengagement of said rotary abutment from said abutment structure to stop said rotary motion of said transport roller; and

(m) means for adjusting the position of said pin-oper- FOREPGITI PATENTS ating member to vary the extent of the rotary motion 10 670,783 Great Bfltaln P 23, 1952 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,748,861 Von Stoeser June 5, 1956 

1. A DEVICE FOR MAKING STRIPS OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH FROM A SHEET METERIAL WOUND TO FORM A ROLL, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) TRANSPORT ROLLER MEANS ADAPTED TO DRAW SHEET MATERIAL WOUND IN FORM OF A ROLL FROM SUCH A ROLL; (B) DRIVE MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID TRANSPORT ROLLER MEANS ADAPTED TO BE TORQUE-TRANSMITTING IN BUT ONE SINGLE DIRECTION, SAID DRIVE ABUTMENT STRUCTURE FIXEDLY MOUNTED (C) A SPRING-BIASED ABUTMENT STRUCTURE FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST SHAFT (D) A FIXED STOP LIMITING ROTARY MOTION OF SAID FIRST SHAFT AND OF SAID ABUTMENT STRUCTURE UNDER SAID SPRING BIAS; (E) A MOTOR; (F) A SECOND SHAFT ARRANGED COAXIALLY TO SAID FIRST SHAFT AND DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR; (G) A ROTARY ABUTMENT DRIVEN BY SAID SECOND SHAFT ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID ABUTMENT STRUCTURE TO OPERATE SAID FIRST SHAFT AGAINST SAID SPRING BIAS; AND (H) ADJUSTING MEANS FOR CONTROLLING ANGLE OF ROTATION OF THE SAID ROTARY ABUTMENT PRECEDING ENAGAGEMENT THEREOF WITH SAID ABUTMENT STRUCTURE, SAID ADJUSTING MEANS INCLUDING CAM MEANS ADAPTED TO MOVE SAID ROTARY ABUTMENT OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ABUTMENT STRUCTURE UPON ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENT BY SAID CAM MEANS, A SLEEVE INTERGRAL WITH SAID CAM MEANS 